Amanda Schick is passionate about challenging her students. As an English teacher, she is constantly pushing them to think harder, dig deeper.

Schick says Multnomah had a huge impact on her career, and the wisdom she took from her professors continues to inspire her.

“MU is rigorous,” Schick says. “The quality education I received here put me in a different league than my colleagues. You don’t just walk out of Multnomah with information — you leave with a changed life.”

After receiving her bachelor’s degree at MU, Schick stayed to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. The program further immersed her in biblical truth and real-world experience. Now the English major teaches Creative Writing, English Language Development and Literacy at Sam Barlow High School in Gresham, Ore.

“I love my job, and I love my students,” she says. “I love it when they get something and their eyes light up!”

Although Schick is unable to share her faith at school, she hopes her viewpoint will influence students for the better.

“When I present information to them in class, it’s solid and grounded, and there’s a basis for it,” she says. “I feel like this can anchor my students, even though I can’t overtly communicate my worldviews to them.”

For Schick, her work isn’t just about what she teaches – it’s also about how she teaches.

“At Multnomah, we see teachers who love what they teach, so they bring it to life,” she says. “It was never just lifeless facts on a page to them. Seeing this reminded me why I wanted to teach, and how I wanted to teach.”

As she continues to prepare her students for a lifetime of reading and writing well, Schick is grateful for the deep conviction and priceless lessons she gained from her professors and her Multnomah family.

“MU taught me how to have a voice and stand up for the things that are important to me,” she says. “I need to teach my students to do the same thing.”

Multnomah is hosting a development seminar for MAT students and teachers on May 31. PPS principal Emily Glasgow will speak on how to connect with all families in your school community. Come ready to be challenged, enlightened and educated on how to reach diverse populations and better serve the kids in your classrooms. Attending this seminar will earn you 4 CEUs.

Learn how and why to positively engage all families in their children's education.

Get ready to:

Develop a shared understanding on why family engagement is a critical component in student success and what types of family engagement matter the most.

Deepen understanding and empathy for our children’s families — view family engagement from their perspective.

Discuss and problem-solve around common obstacles to family engagement in urban public schools.

Sky Cady - Class of '03

I always thought I would end up serving the Lord in a third world country, bringing the gospel to those who had never heard the name of Jesus. During a final SWOT chapel of my senior year, a fire was lit within me for the nations and since that time I’ve visited and/or served short term in 34 different countries. Recently I landed in the United Kingdom—a far cry from the picture I originally imagined in the Congo, or the Maldives.Read the rest of this entry »